We have identified that messages from your IP (xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx) are being filtered based on the recommendations of the SmartScreen filter.
SmartScreen is the spam filtering technology developed and operated by Microsoft.
SmartScreen is built around the technology of machine learning. SmartScreen’s filters are trained to recognize what is spam and what isn’t spam. In short, we filter incoming emails that look like spam.
I am not able to go into any specific details about what these filters specifically entail, as this would render them useless.
However, we also base our spam rating on the reputation of the sender.
One way to positively impact the reputation of your IP is to obtain SPF/Sender ID records.
This technology allows SmartScreen to better track emails from your IP, weeding out spoofed messages.
You can find additional information on creating SPF records at http://www.microsoft.com/senderid
It will also be helpful to send example emails to randomtestacct@hotmail.com from your MTA so that we can examine the types of emails that you send. This will help me in our investigation. When you do this please send me the subject lines of emails you have sent. Please make sure that these emails are functionally similar to the types of emails that originate from your system, as any deviation from this may hinder our ability to investigate your problem. Do not use the word, “Test” or anything that would change the email from the original message that was initially sent to Hotmail Customers.
I hope that the information that I have provided to you has been helpful.
You may also be able to find additional information on common delivery questions at the Hotmail Postmaster Site found at: http://postmaster.msn.com/. I would like to highlight some key areas which I believe are appropriate to your company.
Hotmail has created the Smart Network Data Services program. This is a service that helps legitimate email senders work with their customers and partners to reduce spam originating from their IP. http://postmaster.msn.com/snds/. This program allows a sender to monitor the ‘health’ of their IPs.
I would also strongly recommend that you authenticate your outbound email via Sender ID and publish your SPF records for your outbound email IPs and register with Sender ID. You can find additional information at http://www.microsoft.com/senderID or you may email senderid@microsoft.com for support. Please note that technical standards (RFC 4408) discourage use of "ptr" for performance and reliability reasons.
We recommend using the soft fail (~all) and the hard fail (-all) closing mechanisms for reliability and security reasons.
The soft fail should be used when you having IP’s that are coming in through an Open DNS.
If all sending IP’s that you will use are included in the SPF record it is best to use a hard fail (-all) because it is more secure and will help lower the spam weight of your mail.
Please do not forget to add your new SPF as a TXT entry into your public DNS records, if you do not have access to the DNS consult with your hosting company or ISP.
Monitor user complaints.
Hotmail also has a sender complaint feedback loop program Junk Email Reporting Program (JMRP). Enrollment in this, free of charge, program will benefit you as a sender as it will keep your e-mail lists updated and populated with interested MSN Hotmail Customers. Participation in this program will remove those MSN Hotmail Customers who do not want to receive e-mails from your company. If you are interested in joining this program please visit Http://support.msn.com/eform.aspx?productKey=edfsjmrpp&page=support_home_options_form_byemail&ct=eformts.
While using the SNDS tool, enrollment in the JMRP or having your IPs registered with Sender ID will not allow emails from your mail servers to bypass our filters, these are in place to help legitimate companies deliver their emails to Hotmail Customers.
SenderScore Certified Mail Program.
Many legitimate mailers and marketers have qualified and joined this “white listing” program to improve mail deliverability and decrease email from being filtered to the Junk E-mail Folder.
Sender Score is a third party program, administered by Return Path. Sender Score (www.senderscorecertified.com) is the only White Listing service to which we subscribe.
The troubleshooting steps in this email are recommendations only.
Microsoft makes no guarantees that following these steps will guarantee deliverability to MSN, Hotmail, or Live.com customers.
